The Worthy House (Charles Haywood)
Charles Haywood
I am here to give you back your future. Human flourishing in the coming post-liberal West. The hour is late, and Moloch is within the gates. Foundationalism. Reality-focused writings, often on history and politics.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 21, 2020 • 34min
The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Visions to Shape Tomorrow’s World (Charles C. Mann)
A complete analysis of the eternal modern Western battle between those who focus on human limits (and who often wish humanity would disappear) and those who view science and technology as handmaidens to man's progress and destiny. (The written version of this review was first published February 9, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Mar 19, 2020 • 16min
The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently . . . and Why (Richard E. Nisbett)
It is, I think, timely to consider the differences in how the Chinese and the Americans approach the world. It is certainly instructive. (The written version of this review was first published February 7, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Mar 16, 2020 • 25min
Great Society: A New History (Amity Shlaes)
In these times of turmoil, why the 1960s were not just a mistake, but a societal evil, and how we can take advantage of today's circumstances to get back on track. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Mar 12, 2020 • 12min
The Middle Ages (Johannes Fried)
A short review, for once, of this excellent work, which discusses how the modern world, in thought and technology, was birthed by Europeans a thousand years ago. (The written version of this review was first published January 27, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Mar 9, 2020 • 23min
The Throne of Adulis: Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam (G. W. Bowersock)
Thoughts about obscure conflicts from fourteen hundred years ago, and what they tell us of today. (The written version of this review, in web, PDF, and ebook formats, can be found here.)
Mar 7, 2020 • 23min
The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook (Niall Ferguson)
Of Niall Ferguson's excellent 2018 "The Square and the Tower," and of low-trust societies and the effects of technology on our political future. Prescient, from the viewpoint of 2020. (The written version of this review was first published January 24, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Mar 1, 2020 • 20min
The Collapse of Complex Societies (Joseph A. Tainter)
A book with some interesting points, but extremely narrow and deliberately self-blinkered. (The written version of this review was first published January 24, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Feb 25, 2020 • 28min
The Betrayal of American Prosperity: Free Market Delusions, America’s Decline, and How We Must Compete in the Post-Dollar Era (Clyde Prestowitz)
This 2010 book outlines much of today's even-more-pressing debates about whether America should implement an industrial policy. (The written version of this review was first published January 17, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Feb 22, 2020 • 18min
Reflections on the Revolution In Europe: Immigration, Islam, and the West (Christopher Caldwell)
Christopher Caldwell's 2009 book on immigration to Europe is not bad, but it's been overtaken by events, and its analysis isn't subtle enough. (The written version of this review was first published January 15, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Feb 13, 2020 • 24min
Age of Fracture (Daniel T. Rodgers)
This book, winner of the 2012 Bancroft Prize, offers some interesting ideas about ideas, but is primarily interesting for what it misses. (The written version of this review was first published January 12, 2018. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
